Can't get camera to go into Manual Focus

I've been using my camera to take close up pictures of jewelry and beads, using macro filter/lenses. Because of this, I've been using the manual focus, instead of auto-focus. However, something changed in the settings when I took the camera on vacation and started taking standard vacation pictures, and now I can't get any response from the camera when I push the focus button next to the shutter button. I have put the camera into single, monitor and continuous options in the AF Mode of the menu. Is it possible that the button is simply broken now, or is there a setting that I'm missing?

Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.

Draw a box over the problem!!

Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

For taking pictures of things close to the camera, switch to macro mode. There's a slide switch on the end of the camera, near the USB socket. Slide it to the flower position for macro.Don't forget to switch back for taking "normal" pictures.

The 55-200mm lens does not focus closer than 1.1 meters (3.6 feet). If the subject is too close, then the autofocus tries and fails to focus or keeps trying (and squeaking). Either way, you won't be able to take a picture. In manual focus, you can take a picture but it will be out of focus and blurry.

Every lens has a minimum focus distance, closer than which it will not focus. Some lenses focus closer than others. It's a matter of design; making lenses focus closer makes them larger, heavier, and more expensive.

If you want to take close-ups, you have several options. You can buy close-up adapters that fit onto the front of a lens. You can buy a special close-up lens ("macro" or "micro" lens). You can buy extension tubes to fit between the camera and a lens.

Most any lens (other than fisheyes or super-wide-angle) will work so long as the object is within the lens' focusing range.

If you need to shoot up close, you will either need close-focus filters (basically screw-on magnifying lenses) or a lens with "macro" capability. Other lenses typically cannot focus on objects closer than about two feet to the camera.

It also helps to have decent lighting, which cannot be controlled with the camera alone.

Many compact cameras have a macro mode, which allows the lens to focus much closer than normal.

With an interchangeable lens camera, one usually uses a macro lens which is designed to focus closer than non-macro lenses. One can also use extension tubes or bellows to put the lens farther away from the camera (which brings the focal plane closer). Another technique that works for many lenses is to reverse it (putting the lens on backward), though this requires a reverse adapter.

Close up and macro photography require special lenses chances are you are to close for the lens to see what you are attempting to focus on. Another thing if you are hand holding the camera the chances are extremely good you can't hold it steady enough for the camera to lock on to the subject.When shooting macro the depth of field is extremely shallow to you need to stop down the lens to maybe F11 or even F22 so now you have a light problem. You didn't say how close the subject was to the front of the lens. So to get started on this close up photograph mount the camera to a tripod switch the lens to manual and slowly focus on your subject. There is a small green dot in the lower right corner of the viewfinder that will come on sold green when your subject is in focus. If it doesn't you are to close to the subject for the lens you are using.

In super macro mode, there is a minimum focussing distance. Any closer, and you have no hope of locking in a focus. So, be sure you don't go past this point.Close up pics have a very shallow "depth of focus" meaning that very little in front or behind what you focussed on will be in focus. Is anything in focus in your pics? If you can exert some manual control over lens openings, you could try using a smaller opening to get more of your subject in focus. When taking close-ups, always use a tripod.

There are two likely reasons for the blurry pictures. One possibility is, as you surmised, a slow shutter speed. Try mounting the camera on a tripod or other stable support. You might also try turning on the flash.

The other reason is focus, or lack thereof. You didn't specify what cameras you have, but if they're Coolpixes, they most likely have a close-up or macro mode that will allow the lens to focus closer. If you're using a DSLR, you will need some other way to focus closer. Macro lenses, extension tubes, and close-up filters are three ways of achieving this.

Your lens is the limiting factor to take macro photos, the kit lens provided with you camera won't focus very closely, nor it will have decent magnification. There are special purpose macro lenses which can stretch up to and over $1000 for a decent quality one. Tamron's 90mm f2.8 is probably the best value one.

A tripod will be of benefit too, as it slows down the process, so you think about your composition, use manual focus and a small aperture for better depth of focus (field).

Recommend not using flash. The first thing is that your subject should be well lit. Try placing it on a lighter background with good lighting around it. Also recommend using a tripod to keep the camera steady, and setting and using the camera's timer to take the photo (this also helps keep the camera steady). The closest auto-focused macro shot that the S200 takes is around 1 foot from the subject. Depress the shutter button halfway to verify that the subject is in focus (one of the three squares on the LCD should turn green on the subject). Next depress the shutter button all the way to take the photo.